last updated feb 2025
We're not here to talk about grocery prices right now, but it's always good to know where you can grab some free grub when you need it! Here's a list of Food Banks, Free Fridges, and other discounted food-options around Chicago.
Northside
New Hope Community Food Pantry
6125 W Foster - Jefferson Park
Serving zip codes 60630, 60631, 60634, 60646, 60656 and 60706, New Hope Community Food Pantry distributes food to the community every Tuesday (9:30 AM - 11:30 AM) and the fourth Monday of every month (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM). They also provide health, wellness and chronic disease prevention services, and their volunteers and employees can speak both French and Spanish.
Ignatian Mission Center
1735 W Greenleaf Ave - Rogers Park
For those between Howard, Devon, Western and the Lake, Ignatian Mission Center opens their pantry every Tuesday (3:00 PM - 7:00 PM) and every Friday (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM).
Care For Real
5339 N Sheridan Rd - Edgewater
Zip codes 60640, 60626, 60660, 60645 and 60659 can receive free groceries from Care For Real's pantry every Monday (4:00 PM - 6:00 PM), Wednesday (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM) and Saturday (9:00 AM-1:00 PM).
Ravenswood Community Services Inc.
1757 W Wilson Ave - Uptown
All of Cook County can head to Ravenswood Community Services Inc. to visit their food pantry on Tuesdays (5:30 PM - 7:30 PM, Spanish spoken). Hot meals are also served during those same time frames. They additionally provide assistance with SNAP applications.
Nourishing Hope-Sheridan Market
3945 N Sheridan Rd - Lake View
Nourishing Hope provides comprehensive food assistance programs, offering services such as an online market that allows mobile ordering in addition to their food pantry open Monday (11:00 AM - 3:00 PM), Wednesday (11:00 AM - 3:00 PM), Thursday (4:00 PM - 7:00 PM), Friday (11:00 AM - 3:00 PM) and Saturday (11:00 AM - 3:00 PM). Visit their website for more details about their programs.
St Vincent DePaul Center
2145 N Halsted St - Lincoln Park
Those in zip codes 60605, 60607, 60610, 60614 and 60654 can pick up from the SVDP food pantry Tuesdays and Thursdays (9:30 AM - 12:00 PM). The center also provides job development, nutrition and SNAP application services.
LaSalle Neighbors/Breaking Bread Ministries
1111 N Wells St - Near North Side
Cook County senior citizens can receive groceries from LaSalle Neighbors every Tuesday (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM), while all Cook County residents can receive hot meals Wednesday nights (6:00 PM - 7:00 PM).
Meals Ministry
126 E Chestnut St - Mag Mile
Meals Ministry provides hot meals four days a week: Sunday (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM), Tuesday (11:30 AM - 1:00 PM), Wednesday (11:30 AM - 1:00 PM) and Thursday (11:30 AM - 1:00 PM).
Northwestern University Settlement Association
1400 W Augusta Blvd - Noble Square
Anyone in zip codes 60610, 60622 and 60642 can grab some groceries from NUSA (where Spanish is spoken) every Tuesday (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM), Wednesday (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM) and Thursday (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM).
Chicago Hope Inc.
2505 N Kedzie Blvd - Logan Square
Pantry distribution at Chicago Hope Inc. is available for zip codes 60651, 60618, 60622, 60639, 60641 and 60647 on Mondays (4:00 PM - 6:00 PM) and Thursdays (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM), while those 60+ in Cook County can pick up commodity boxes on Fridays (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
West Side
Pan de Vida Food Pantry
2701 S Lawndale Ave - Little Village
Food is available for pick up four days a week for those in zip codes
60623, 60624, 60612 and 60609. Head to Pan de Vida on Tuesday (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM), Wednesday (3:00 PM - 6:00 PM), Thursday (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM), Saturday (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM). They also offer outdoor grocery distribution to all Cook County residents on the second and fourth Friday of each month (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM) and SNAP Application assistance.
Carey Tercentenary AME Church
1448 S Homan Ave - North Lawndale
Carey Tercentenary serves out of their food pantry on Fridays (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM) those in zip codes 60612, 60623 and 60624.
A Safe Haven Foundation
2750 W Roosevelt Rd - Douglass Park
Chicagoans located in zips 60608, 60612, 60623 and 60624 can pick up groceries at A Safe Haven on Wednesdays (10:00 AM - 1:00 PM).
Pilsen Food Pantry
2124 S Ashland Ave - Pilsen
Community members in 60607, 60608, 60609 and 60612 can head to Pilsen Food Pantry for grocery distribution five times a week: Monday (10:00 AM - 1:30 PM), Tuesday (10:00 AM - 1:30 PM), Wednesday (10:00 AM - 1:30 PM), Thursday (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM) and Friday (10:00 AM - 1:30 PM). Staff also speak Mandarin, Cantonese and Spanish and can provide nutrition services.
Our Lady of the Holy Family
1334 W Flournoy St - Near West Side
If you're located between Lake Street, 15th, Canal and Western, you can head to Our Lady of the Holy Family for Friday food distribution (1:30 PM - 3:30 PM).
Chicago Temple Corps Community Center
1 N Ogden Ave - West Loop
Anyone living in zip codes 60601, 60602, 60603, 60604, 60605, 60606, 60607, 60610, 60611, 60612 and 60661 is eligible for Tuesday food distribution at Chicago Temple Corps Community Center (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
Harbor Light Corps
825 N Christiana Ave - Humboldt Park
Humboldt Park and the surrounding areas (60622, 60624 and 60651) can receive groceries five times a week: Monday (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM), Tuesday (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM), Wednesday (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM), Thursday (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM) and Friday (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM). They also offer workforce development programs.
St Stephen AME Church
3042 W Washington Blvd - Garfield Park
Grab a hot meal at St Stephen AME Church Wednesdays and Thursdays (3:00 PM - 5:00 PM).
Life Impacters Foundation
2100 N Kildare Ave - Hermosa
The Life Impacters food pantry is open Monday (4:00 PM - 6:00 PM) and Wednesday (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM), and anyone can grab a hot meal on Tuesdays (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM) and Wednesdays (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM).
Onward House
5433 W Diversey Ave - Belmont Cragin
Those located between Belmont, Fullerton, Cicero and Narrangansett cam pick up groceries on Thursdays (3:00 PM - 6:00 PM). Spanish is spoken.
South Side
Circle Foundation
3052 S Gratten Ave - Bridgeport
The Circle Foundation provides grocery distribution to those in zip codes 60608, 60609 and 60616 on Saturdays (9:30 AM - 11:30 AM). They also offer workforce development training for those aged 16 to 24.
Midwest Asian Health Association
218 W 26th St - Chinatown
The Midwest Asian Health Association is open Wednesdays (2:30 PM - 4:30 PM) and Thursdays (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM) to provide food distribution to those in the 60616 zip code.
West Point Baptist Church
3566-72 S Cottage Grove Ave - Lake Meadows
Anyone in Cook County can pick up groceries from the WPBC pantry on Wednesdays (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM).
Our Lady of Africa Catholic Church
4058 S Michigan - Bronzeville
For those living between 35th, 51st, Lake Shore Drive and the Dan Ryan, pick up groceries Thursdays (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM). Anyone in Cook County can participate in outdoor grocery distribution on the fourth Saturday of each month (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM). They also offer nutrition services upon request.
Matthew House
3728 S Indiana Ave - Bronzeville
Grab a hot meal six days a week at Matthew House. Swing by their Bronzeville location Monday through Saturday (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM; 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM). Community members can also receive assistance with their SNAP applications.
Englewood Red Shield Center
845 W 69th St - Englewood
All located in zip codes 60609, 60615, 60617, 60619, 60620, 60621, 60627, 60628, 60633, 60636, 60637, 60643, 60649, 60653 and 60827 can receive food from the pantry on Tuesdays (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM), Wednesdays (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) and Thursdays (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM).
New Mount Calvary Baptist Church
1850 W Marquette Rd - West Englewood
NMCBC is offering food pantry services for all located between 55th, 77th, Racine and Western. Pickup is Mondays (2:30 PM - 4:30 PM).
A Blessing Hand
5815 S Homan Ave - Gage Park
Outdoor grocery distribution takes place on the third Saturday of each month (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM). A Blessing Hand also offers a litany of other services, including job training, mental health, nutrition, wellness and disease prevention services in both English and Spanish.
Providence MBC
8401 South Ashland Ave - Auburn Gresham
Cook Country residents can grab some groceries at Providence MBC on Wednesdays (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM).
Bryn Mawr Community Foundation
7000 S Jeffery Blvd - South Shore
Those in zip codes 60619 and 60649 can pick up groceries on Saturdays (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM), while all Cook County residents can grab a meal at the same time.
